For City's Maestro, Life Is a Beach

In the Midst of a Whirlwind Year, Philip Glass Envisions a Bright Future

By

Andy Battaglia

June 13, 2012 9:39 p.m. ET

Midway through his 76th year, which has been—and will continue to be—packed with concerts and tributes of all kinds, Philip Glass is having fun, though he'd prefer to spend less time in the clouds. Since his 75th birthday in January kicked off a gala season, the iconic composer has presented work both new and old around the world, most of all in his hometown of New York.

Highlights so far have included the U.S. premiere of his Symphony No. 9 at Carnegie Hall and a five-hour presentation of his early-'70s cycle "Music...